AN: I'm back for a bit. December and January are finished and I hope to finish the rest soon in case I get the job I have an interview for tomorrow *keeping my fingers crossed* ;)

This will start the second and final act of Finding Home.

December - Part 1

The first week of December things started to get a little crazy in their household as the boys were getting ready for the opening night of their musical. At first, Burt had tried to offer his help, but after being shot down repeatedly and asked to just keep out of the way, he decided his time would be better spent in the garage, looking for a new employee who could help out as soon as Burt's job in Columbus started in January.

His wife was busy as well, prepping for her finals as well as getting the house ready for Christmas. Burt didn't understand why they had to start putting on lights this early, but he knew better than to disagree with his stressed out wife.

Finally it was opening night, and after picking up flowers for the kids, Burt and Carole went inside the auditorium and sat down next to LeRoy, Hiram and Tala who were all very excited to see the show. No one more than Hiram, who told Burt he did musical theater when he was in college.

Burt didn't know much about the show other than that it was based on some opera and the music wouldn't be just show tunes.

When the curtain went up and the show started Burt couldn't help but jump up and yell 'that's my boy' when Kurt came on stage for the first time. Carole rolled her eyes, but gave him a fond smile when he did the same for Finn.

He had to admit he was quite enjoying the show as it went on although he had to admit to himself that the topic made him a bit uncomfortable. He just prayed to whoever was out there, that he never had to go through something like that with Kurt.

He was pulled out of his revelry when Kurt suddenly jumped on top of the table and started singing something about bohemians and as the song wore on, he sank deeper into his chair. He was surprised the school let the kids sing lyrics like that.

"Aren't you glad you told everyone who your boys are," Carole teased as she observed his posture. Burt glared at her for a moment, but than his expression softened. "Yeah, I am."

During intermission, their small group went to get some refreshments and met up with Sarah and Mercedes' parents, though Burt quickly excused himself to the restroom, after he finished a beer in record time.

When he came back, Carole was talking to Hiram, and Burt could tell that whatever they were talking about, wasn't a pleasant topic.

"What did I miss?" he asked as he joined them. Hiram apparently took that as his cue to leave and once he was gone, Carole turned to face him.

"Just telling me about his life in New York in the eighties." She didn't have to elaborate. "I worry about that with Kurt," he admitted.

Carole gave him a sympathetic smile. "I know, but things are different now. There's treatment. And Kurt and Blaine are good kids who know to be careful," Carole tried to calm him. "And you know, about half of the people living with HIV today are straight. So I really wouldn't worry too much about Kurt."

Burt hadn't known that because growing up everyone had told him that Aids was the gay disease and to stay away from them unless you wanted to catch it. By now he knew though not to believe everything he was told when he was younger, because a lot of those things had been wrong or plain lies.

The second act brought him to tears nevertheless as a kid he didn't know died on stage, and he was glad Kurt had auditioned for another role, because that wasn't something he ever wanted to witness.

Once the show was over they all rushed backstage to hand out flowers, congratulating Kurt's teacher on a great production even Burt had enjoyed even though he usually wasn't a fan of musical theater.

To celebrate their kids, the grown-ups had reserved a table at Breadstix where they all stayed till they were kicked out, the parents pointedly ignoring that the kids had snuck some booze in. They deserved to have a little party after all and most of them were legally adults already.

"You were great," Burt told his son on their way back home. Kurt's face immediately lit up. "You really think so? Good enough to get into Julliard?"

"I don't know what that is, but they would be fools if they didn't take you," he assured his son because Kurt really was as talented as his former wife had always said.

"Just make sure to save me a seat for your first Broadway show," Burt told Kurt, proud that he at least remembered the name of that New York theater thing.

The smile Kurt gave him in return, was better than any presents he had ever gotten.

The closer finals got the more stressed Blaine became because he knew he had to ace them all if he wanted to get into Columbia. Compared to Dalton, McKinley was easy, but he was having a hard time concentrating when his whole future would be decided by a few tests. He was just glad he had taken his SATs before he had found out about his trust fund, because apparently he wasn't doing so well under pressure, at least academically.

Kurt kept telling him that was bullshit because he freaked out every time test season came around and he always passed with flying colors, but Blaine was convinced this time would be different. This time he would screw up if he didn't spent his every waking moment preparing for exams. Luckily, and he couldn't believe he was saying this, he only had three more performances left before he could fully concentrate on school.

He was in the middle of writing an essay for his AP English class when his phone rang, a number he didn't recognize showing up on the display. Nevertheless, Blaine picked up, because it could be about something important.

The line however stayed quiet, even though Blaine could hear someone breathing on the other end. He didn't know what to make of it, but before he could demand to be told who was calling him the other person hung up the phone. Blaine shook his head, and dropped his phone on the bed next to him after silencing it. He couldn't worry about that weird call right now – he still had tons of stuff to do.

However, the calls kept happening the next day and it always seemed as if the person on the other end was about to say something before stopping him- or herself. It was getting creepy, having to listen to another person breathing on the phone, and Blaine was quickly getting fed up with it.

He hadn't planned to tell Kurt about the phone calls because he wasn't sure what to make of them either, but of course Kurt found out anyway, which was Blaine's fault though.

They both were lounging on Kurt's bed, trying to finish the last of their homework before finals week when Blaine's phone rang close to Kurt and Blaine asked his boyfriend to answer for him.

Blaine only looked up when he noticed that Kurt was quietly listening before he frowned. "Who's this?" he demanded. Blaine had done so too but had never gotten an answer. So he was surprised when the mystery caller seemed to answer Kurt.

"I know I'm not Blaine," Kurt suddenly shot at the caller. "But if you want to talk to him, you'll have to tell me who you are." Blaine scooted closer hoping to overhear what the were talking about, but Kurt handed back the phone before he could catch something.

"He hung up," Kurt informed him, still looking a bit confused. "That was weird," he added and Blaine decided it would be better to tell Kurt about the phone calls he'd been getting the past few days.

"You don't think it's Sebastian's newest way to get on your nerves," Kurt wondered out loud a few minutes later, as Blaine was struggling to find x. He looked up in surprise, because he honestly hadn't even though about it. He hadn't heard from the other boy since his exile to public school and had hoped they were done for good. Chandler told them about him from time to time but that was it. If it was really Sebastian who kept calling, Blaine would have some choice words for him if he called again. He was done with being polite.

No one called the rest of the day however, and Blaine was starting to think Kurt had scared him off. The next afternoon however, the phone rang again.

"Blaine, I…" a voice that sounded vaguely familiar started but Blaine had had enough so he interrupted before the caller (Sebastian?) could say anything else.

"Listen you jerk. I don't want you to call me any more. Haven't you done enough damage in the past? Why can't you leave me the hell alone? So don't call, don't Skype and don't Facebook me or I'm going to send Burt after you. I've heard you met him briefly," Blaine yelled before hanging up the phone and promptly blocking the number.

When he looked up, Kurt was standing in the doorway looking concerned. "Sebastian again?" he asked and Blaine nodded. "I blocked the number though, so hopefully that was the last we've heard from him."

Kurt came over to join him on the bed and Blaine moved a few pieces of paper out of the way to give Kurt space to sit down. "What are you doing here?" he asked once Kurt was seated. "Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but didn't you say you were busy this afternoon."

Blaine sighed contently when Kurt pulled him closer and he could feel Kurt nod against his chest. "Coach Sylvester has asked me to enlist the Glee club to help out at the homeless shelter for Christmas and I wanted to see if your mom wanted to help as well," Kurt explained and Blaine realized with a start that he really must be out of it if he had missed that announcement in Glee.

"Right, I knew that," he told Kurt who smirked and shook his head. "No you didn't, but that's why I'm here. To make sure you remember to eat and other important things."

Blaine couldn't refrain from leaning in and kissing Kurt out of gratitude because he had the best boyfriend ever.

"I still have to talk to a few other people this afternoon, so can you ask your mom if she's willing to help out as well?" Kurt asked once they separated for air, and Blaine nodded, pouting slightly because he wanted to continue kissing Kurt.

He couldn't wait for the semester to be over and break to start

Kurt hadn't been lying when he had told Blaine he couldn't spend more time with him because he had to get people to help out at the shelter, but he had talked to most people on his list before he went by Blaine's. He couldn't tell Blaine the real reason why he didn't have time for him though, because that would have ruined the surprise.

The house was empty when he got back, and Kurt quickly emptied his purchases onto the kitchen table. He put the glue on one side and ten packs of Wrigley's juicy fruits on the other before he started to unwrap the chewing gum.

He was in the middle of separating the paper from the gum when Carole came in, a puzzled look on her face when she spotted his project.

"What's that?" she asked as his stepmom sat down opposite him. She looked sad, Kurt noticed and he knew she'd been for a while. He just didn't know how to help her or why she looked so sad.

"Blaine's Christmas present," he explained, gluing another piece of paper together to finish the tiny paper bowtie. "It's a promise ring," he added when Carole still looked confused.

"That's sweet honey," she told him, but even though she smiled her eyes told a different story and Kurt just had to ask.

"Are you feeling okay? You can talk to me, you know." Carole looked like she was about to deny anything was wrong, but than she sank further into her chair, before she started to speak.

"I think I'm just sad because this will be our last Christmas with all of us together. Who knows if you're coming back next year, and before you know it you might have a family of your own and will want to celebrate with them. I thought by next year I'd have a baby and that would make it easier, but that's not happening either."

Kurt scooted closer and put his hand on Carole's, squeezing it gently. "I'm sorry," he whispered. He hadn't known that his parents had trouble getting pregnant, because he and Finn had just assumed they had decided not to have on right now, because of the campaign and stuff like that. But if Carole had found out recently that she couldn't have a child, that would explain why she looked so sad.

"I promise to be back for Christmas next year," he told her not knowing what else to say. Carole gave him a watery smile and was about to get up and leave Kurt to his project when he remembered his mission and he quickly told Carole about their plans to visit the homeless shelter before Christmas.

Carole was quick to ensure him that she and Burt would be there as well and that she would also spread the word in her classes.

They ended up talking until Kurt had finished his ring, and he even asked Carole to help him with the little speech he was planning for Blaine. Carole seemed happier when she was helping him and Kurt hoped to find a way to keep the smile on her face more permanently because Carole deserved to be happy, especially after everything she had done for him in the past.

Carole was glad that Kurt had asked her to join the glee club at the local homeless center because she liked feeling like someone needed her, even more so with Christmas approaching – the last one with the whole family regardless of what Kurt was promising.

While the glee kids were handing out presents to the kids while singing Christmas carols, Carole was giving out food with some of the other adults there. Next to her was a woman in her fifties, whose grey hair was pulled into a bun.

"First time here?" she asked Carole after they'd worked silently together for a while. Carole nodded. "My son and stepson are in glee club and asked me to help out," she explained.

"Well it's important and we appreciate it. Too bad people only seem to come here around Christmas." Well maybe that was something Carole could change … she would have a lot of free time soon enough.

"Do you work here permanently?" she asked, curious to find out more. "I'm Carole by the way."

"Jennifer. I'd shake your hand but I don't think right now would be a good idea," Jennifer laughed gesturing with the spoon in her hand.

"And no, I don't. I'm a social worker though. I help find foster families for the kids under my care."

Carole was intrigued because although she had met many different kinds of families during Burt's campaign she had never met any foster families.

"Maybe you are interested in joining our program? We are always looking for people wanting to help out. As the future senator's wife, this would send out a great message to other people thinking about it," Jennifer told her as they continued handing out soup and turkey with mashed potatoes to the people in the shelter.

Carole looked up in surprise. Why hadn't she thought about that before? She had been so focused on having a biological child she hadn't even considered other options. Maybe becoming foster parents would be a way to fill the void after the kids graduated in June.

"I'd have to talk to my husband about it, but maybe you could give me your number so I could call if we decide to sign up," Carole offered and Jennifer quickly took off her gloves and handed Carole a business card she had in her pocket.

"Always be prepared is my motto," she explained. "You have no idea how many people I managed to convert in soup kitchens," Jennifer joked.

Jennifer told her a bit more about her job as they continued to serve food and Carole was getting more and more intrigued by the idea.

Later that night, she and Burt sat down in the living room after Finn and Kurt had disappeared upstairs.

"I met a social worker tonight and she got me thinking," Carole told Burt once they were both comfortably settled on the couch. Burt looked at her questioningly and told her to go on.

"What would you say to becoming foster parents once the kids go to college? We wouldn't be alone here and would help some kids who really needed a safe place to stay," she asked hopeful that Burt would like the idea.

Burt smiled at her. "And that's the reason why I love you."

"Is that a yes?" Carole wanted to know. They weren't in a hurry because the kids still had four months of school left but she wanted to call Jennifer with the good news as soon as possible.

"I think that's a wonderful idea, but we should revisit it when the time comes to see where we are in our lives," Burt answered and Carole tried not to show that she was a bit disappointed he didn't say completely yes immediately. However, she had four months to convince her husband that becoming foster parents would be a great idea.

"I think I'll keep volunteering at the shelter," she said instead of talking about her feelings. "As your campaign manager I think you should as well," she added jokingly, but she knew Burt was already busy as it was and it would only get worse once he started working in Columbus the first week of January.

"I'll see that I can make it from time to time," Burt promised though and Carole beamed at him. "I love you," she whispered and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead before getting up to go to sleep.

She had found a new passion and maybe if she focused on it hard enough she would forget about the fact that she couldn't have children anymore.

Christmas was Finn's favorite season for a few reasons. The biggest – and he didn't feel the need to hide it – presents. Then there were cookies – even better now that Kurt made them – spending time with family and watching silly Christmas movies in your pjs all day.

For years it had only been him and his mom, and from time to time his grandma as well, but then his mom had met Burt and even though he had felt a bit bad at first when he found out Burt was spending Christmas with them instead of his own son, he had been happy to have more people to share the fun with.

Last year's Christmas had even been better. He and Kurt were starting to become brothers and he realized that Blaine was a cool dude as well. Burt's weird parents weren't there and he and a couple of friends from school had drunk eggnog all night and had sung Christmas carols.

This year's Christmas eve dinner was a more quiet affair with only Blaine and his mom attending, because Rachel's parents had gone on a cruise with her and Santana's parents were in town for Christmas and wanted to spend some time with their daughter.

It had still been great though. He, Blaine and Kurt had made fun of the grown ups when they started to get really tipsy while trying to hide that they weren't exactly sober themselves. It was his grandma's fault though – who had finally given up on her singles cruise and had decided to come join them for Christmas dinner – because she convinced them to smoke some pot with her. To his surprise even Kurt had agreed, which he hadn't when the same thing went down during Thanksgiving, muttering something about getting college experiences out of the way in case he didn't get into college.

Finn thought that idea was ridiculous because if anyone didn't get into college it was him. He didn't dwell on that thought though, and instead had fun with his brother and Blaine as the night progressed.

It was close to midnight and Blaine and Kurt had just excused themselves to Kurt's room to "exchange presents", when Finn snuck into the kitchen for a late night snack. Music was still playing loudly in the living room, where his parents and Blaine's mom were dancing like drunk grown-ups, when Finn heard a knock on the front door.

He frowned as he swallowed another bite of his sandwich because it was late and snowing, and he didn't know anyone who would come over this time of the night. Still, he walked over to the front door, only stumbling once over his own shoes he had dropped there earlier and opened the front door.

A gush of cold wind entered the hallway and Finn subconsciously took a step back. In front of the door was a tall man – not as tall as Finn but taller than Kurt - with dark hair, probably in his thirties, who looked vaguely familiar, though Finn couldn't place him. Maybe he just reminded him of someone else.

"Can I help you?" he finally managed to remember his manners after staring for a bit at the stranger shivering on their front porch.

The stranger nodded. "Is Blaine here? I'm his brother."

AN: The second part will be quite Blaine-centric but as the title said this story is about finding a home for all the people in my little universe.